Gate latch and support



`M. WHITEFOJRD GATE: LATCH AND SUPPORT Filed August 4, 1925 l 71g/ v i ATTORNEYS Patented oci. "12, 192e.

-atar t MILTONk wnITnFoRn, on" MANITO, 'Immers'.

z Gretna LATcH ann SUPPORT.

Application inea August 4, :1925. semaine. 48,125.

i This invention relates iny general to gates and more particularly toa latching and supporting means for swinging gates,

@The object of the invention is to provi-de a latch which may be set to cooperate withk the gate to-secure the same in closed position irrespective of thedirection in ywhich the frate swings and which automatically latches the gate when the same is closed. l

A further Objectis to provide ing` these `advantages andl capacities and z and which aids the hinges inproperly support- `connection 18 with` an eye 19 formed on the ing the gate when the gate is closed.

latch which may be readily released. v Another object is'to provide afdevice of this character whichY is of simpler and durable f` construction, reliable inoperation and easy which will bev hereinafter more fullyY cle-- scribed and particularly setout in the ap-` pended claims, reference being had to the accompanying "drawings, forming vpart of this specification and in which q- 1 Figure 1 is a view in elevationshowing one embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary yview in-elevation showing the latch set to receive the gate,

the gate being shown approaching closed. position,

Figure the lgate is closed, and

Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views on lines 4 4 and 5-5 of Figs. 2 and 2 respectively.

Referring to the drawingsthe numeral 1 designates generally av gate which is supported for horizontal swinging movement on a post 2 by meansof hinges 3 and'4.

'The 'latch which constitutes the present invention is designated generally at 5 and is supported on a post 6 disposed opposite. the post 2. j f

The latch 5 comprises a lat/ching member consisting of a vertically disposed channel Y .mounted for sliding and vrotary movement relative to its post'. The channel. 7 has a base or body portion 8 and side flanges 9, Braclrets'l and 11 are fastened to tje` body orticn 8 of the channel. Rearwardly esten and vertically aliased.

av gate hav- A still further object is to provide a gatev Y h v i szoned to lift the channel 7 upwardly as far as it may travel.v

comparatively' inexpensive to manufae-I portions of the brackets 10 andpll.

bracket;. 10 hasrlaterally extending projecef-` v.tions 10a and' 10b and the bracket llhasy j ysimilar projections Y 11a and 11b, 3 is a fragmentary view in eleva-l "tion 'showing the latch as `positioned* 'when slidablyv parallel to its post and rotatable vf about an axis parallel to its post.

A retractile coil` spring 16 is provided and has` its lower endl connected as at 17 to the body portionof the channel and its upper end suitably fixed kas by means ofa lower end ofthe rod. 'Y The Yspring 16 isten- The channel 7 is designed toreceive and hold the Vgate 1 in closed position irrespective vof which way the gate may be swung.

- Means l is provi-decl to -releasably hold' the Y channel member in gate receiving positioir and this same meansalso servestohold the gate closed and comprises pairs ofl holding members or 'plates designated at v2() and 21.

The plates 2O are fixed to the post 6 at .one side and the plates'21 are iixedtov the post 6 onthe opposite side and in horizontal alignsl y .ment with the plates 20. The members of f eachpair` of plates are vertically spaced so as to be coopera-ble withV the projecting The I Whenrthe .latch `is .set to gate receiving position .the channel7 is' pressed down against the tension of the springvl and then rotated] to one `side or the 'other of the post depending on which way the gatel swings. In Fig. 31the channel is shown `swung to the near side of they post with theo f the side flanges 8 ofthe channel to swing the channel about its rods 14 until the projections- 11a' disengage theplates 2O where'- 'upn the spring u16Ul-iflijs 'the .channels lto l in Figure 2 when the gate swings to closed *posit-ion its free end portions laf strike one brins the hacas aliathe prejsatenfs es the brackets' l0 and l1 into engagement with the plates 2O and 2l to hold the channel against swinging movementin either direction and consequently to hold vthe gate in closed position. To release the gate the channel 'T must be pressed down against the tension ot the spring T6 until the projections 10a, 10b, lla and lll are below the plates 2O and 21 'when the channel lmay be swung on its rods to release the gate.

The side {lange-s 8 ot they channel 7 are formed with transversely aligned 'openings 25 into any pair of which a cross pin 26 may be fitted and sefure'd. The pin 26 is located to enga-ge unser a portion lb ot the gate to litt the tree end ot' the gate so as to relieve the'gate and :its hinges of strain and prevent sagging.

Rollers may be provided to reduce the friction 'between 'the projections "and the pilates and illustrated, these rollers may comprise arms 27 fixed 'on the plates 2() and 21 and carry rollers 28 engageable with the projections.

@ne oi' the advantages of the gate latch Y and support resides in the tact that it will hold `lthe gate in'cloeed position irrespective ot the distance that theA gate swings above :the ground.

I claims-4 l l. A latch for a swinging gate Vcomprising latching member engageable with the gate. means for mounting the vlatching member for turning and sliding movement, means tor holding the `latching ymember against movement in one angular adjustment and in'one'phase o'i its sliding movement, means vtending to urge `the 'latch vmemberr to such aliase and means for releasabl holdin@ the latching 'member in'gate receiving position when the latching member is set in another phase of its sliding adjustment and in an- "other angular adjustment, and means onV the late-hing member for lifting the ee 1,eos,176

tion to secure the gate closed.` v

3. A latch for a swinging gate-comprising a channel yengageable with lthe tree end 'of the gate, vmeans for mounting the channel for limited sliding and swinging movement,

a spring orurgi-ng the channel upwardly,-

iixed holding plates, and projections on ethe channel engageable with thefunderside and front 'edges ot the holding plates; 4. A. latch for a swinging gate comprising a channel engageable vwith 'the free end v01',

the gate', means for kmountiing ythe foliannel tor limited sliding and'swingi-ng'-movement, a spring for urging* the channel upwardly, fixed holding plates, yprojections `on lthe channel engageable with the underside andtront edges of the 4holding plates, yand vmeans on the channel vfor supporting the free end ot the gate. 1

5. A latch fora swinging` a channel engageable with Kthe-ifreefend of the gate, means for mounting the vchannel for limited sliding and swinginginovement, a spring vfor urging vthe channel upwardly, fixed holding plates, projectionson the channel engageable vwith lthe underside and front edgesoic the holding plates, said'chan- Lnel having aseriesl of openings, vandl across pin selectively engageable kvwith the openings and engageable with the., gate yto "lift the saine. j

MILTON VHITEFORD.

gate comprising i 

